Lake Havasu City Parks and Recreation

The year-round, sunny climate of Lake Havasu City means that there are outdoor happenings going-on during every season of the year: from horseback and ATV riding, motorcycles, golf, hiking, biking and rock climbing to fishing, swimming, sailing, kayaking and canoeing, there’s an adventure awaiting you by land or by water in Lake Havasu City! Equestrian activities, off-road & power sports, camping, nature watching, hot-air balloon tours, and picnicking are available at most area parks or within a convenient distance to Lake Havasu City. No matter what your preference—there’s plenty to do in Lake Havasu!

With several dedicated sports complexes and many designated sport areas located within the city parks; both residents and visitors are afforded the opportunity to engage and play at one of the number of area parks. Ranked as one of the most family-friendly, year-round escape destinations in the state of Arizona,Lake Havasu’s City Parks offer amenities that include bocce courts, four-wheeling trails, nature trails, bird watching locations, public pools, picnic areas and playgrounds, as well as specialized amenities, such as public boat ramps, dog parks and skate parks. The designated public access points for water activities are as diverse as the activities on land, and include fishing, boating and swimming as the most popular things to do in Lake Havasu City.

Parks and Recreation

Here in Lake Havasu City, we’re best known for our life on the water—not what you’d expect for a desert city, to be sure, but that’s one of the many unique qualities that our residents love and our tourists can’t get enough of! Our two most popular destinations, though known for their water-borne activity, are equally as exciting for the landlubbers!

On the shores of Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu State Park(also known as Windsor Beach) is known as much for its wide open, grassy spaces as it is for its white sand beaches. Whether you’re enjoying it by land or from the blue waters of the lake, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the water and Mojave Mountains just beyond. Hikers will love trekking out on the Mohave Sunset Trail, and campers will love not only the tent and RV sites, but also the ease of access to the Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden. Or come by foot or by boat to London Bridge Beach, which has more than just swimming and water sports to offer guests—the park area has playgrounds for the kids, basketball and sand volleyball courts, covered picnic areas and a fully enclosed dog park—so pack a picnic and grab the leash, the whole family’s welcome at London Bridge! Want more? Cattail Cove State Park, River Island State Park,Buckskin Mountain State Park, and Hualapai Mountain Park in nearby Kingsman are all places where outdoor enthusiasts can get their nature fix, work up a sweat, or spent a lazy afternoon on a beach blanket soaking up the sunshine. Cattail Cove, Buckskin Mountains and Desert Queen Mine Trail are a few of the most popular places for off-roading, with rentals available at most locations.

Not looking to go too far, but want to get out of the house? Rotary Park has a skateboard and BMX track, as well as playgrounds for the little ones, and in season, hosts Blythe Heat of the Arizona Winter League and the Lake Havasu Heat of the Pacific Southwest Baseball League minor league baseball games. Tinnell Memorial Sports Park is a favorite for area teens and active sports enthusiasts, with BMX tracks, sport skating and line skating available to the public in a lighted environment.

SARA (Special Activities and Recreation Area) Park is a favorite for dogs and their people, too—there are 1100 acres of park and facilities to explore, all with spectacular mountain views! SARA Park’s network of hiking and mountain bike trails mean that there’s always somewhere new to explore, and the park's facilities are used to pursue a wide range of active sports and activities, as well as playing host for regional and seasonal events. Ballfields, BMX racing, obstacle races and roller hockey are all local favorites at the facilities, and the rodeo & fairgrounds schedule events and concerts throughout the year. Additionally, there’s also an RC plane field and a shooting range available for public use. And let’s not forget one of the biggest attractions in Lake Havasu City, the Havasu 95 Speedway, an ASA-sanctioned paved oval track! This new motor cross course has quickly become one of Arizona’s hotspots, and hosts a variety of vehicle classes from September through May. If you’ve got a “need for speed,” we’ve got you covered—regularly featured divisions include Modifieds, Late Models, Bandoleros, Legends, Factory Stocks, and Street Stocks.

Dog-Friendly Lake Havasu

Can’t bear to be away from your dog? Good thing you’re living in Lake Havasu—it’s a dog’s life here, and it’s a good one! Avalon Park is a conveniently located spot for Lake Havasu City residents to take their pups for playdates, with a number of shaded areas for the hot summer days and wading pools for the dogs to cool off, all in a quiet environment. Lions Park at London Bridge and Dylan’s Park at SARA (Special Activities and Recreation Area) Park, are also dog-friendly. Leashed pets are welcome to visit or go camping with their humans at Cattail Cove State Park, Buckskin Mountains, The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge, and Lake Havasu State Park (with the exception of the waterfront areas.) Adventurous pooches may also accompany their people on the water, with some companies, such as A-1 Watercraft Rentals, allowing for “water dogs.” Likewise, there are a number of restaurants and cafes around town, like Mudshark Brewing Company & Restaurant, where leashed pets may accompany their owners for supper (no doggie bag required.) There are additionally many pet-friendly motel accommodations available in the city, so don’t be hesitant to take a day trip—grab the leash, and you’re good to go!

Golf

There’s no shortage of places where you can hit the green in Lake Havasu City! Our reputation as a resort city has made golfers flock here in droves, and it’s easy to see why—not only do we offer a number of public and privately owned, pro-level courses throughout the city and the region, but we’ve got some of the best scenery around, with mountain, lake and river views, to say nothing of the expanses of painted desert sky, and the fact that you’ll almost never get rained out in Lake Havasu! London Bridge Golf Course is known for its 36 holes of golf and a quartet of beautiful views: while you work your way through the course, you’ll be treated to mountain vistas, a panoramic view of Lake Havasu, the Colorado River, and the classic desert scenery Arizona is known for. The Refuge Golf & Country Club is another favorite, with a course that weaves through the National Wildlife Refuge, the expanse of Lake Havasu and the majesty of the desert mountains, challenging golfers with elevation changes, water features, and a combination of natural dunes. 18 holes await you in an island oasis at the Nautical Golf Course of Island Golf Club at The Nautical Beachfront Resort! Designed by Red Lawrence, the 60.8 USGA rated course is sure to challenge your skill and delight you with its gorgeous views of the lake and mountains. As if these gems of the green weren’t enough, there’s alsoBridgewater Links Golf Course, located in the Bridgewater Channel, which offers 9 holes of golf and overlooks London Bridge. If you’re in the mood to get a little further out, Emerald Canyon Golf Course on the Parker Dam is just a half-hour’s drive from Lake Havasu City, Mojave Resort Golf Club and El Rio Golf Club await you in nearby Mojave, or you can spend your day at the only golf course in the tri state area located on the Colorado River, the Rivers Edge Golf Course in Needles, California.

Day Trips

In the desert to the east and north of Lake Havasu, history and geology buffs delight in the early mining towns and the agate, turquoise, obsidian, geodes, and volcanic rock that stud the hills and trails, waiting to be discovered. As the natural geography is diverse and unique in our region, many residents and tourists enjoy the tours and activities offered by the state and national parks located close to Lake Havasu City. A day-trip to the nearby town of Oatmanwill bring you back into our Old West past, a preserved relic of one of the many gold mining “boomtowns” of the late 1800’s. Today, history comes alive in Oatman with Wild West shootout reenactments, complete with gunslingers in period dress. Or as the song says, “get your kicks on Route 66,” with a trip to the Route 66 Museumin Kingman—here, you can learn all about the “Mother Road” and the stories its 2400 miles have to tell. If the call of the road gets to you, take advantage of the sunny weather and take the “road less traveled” for an adventure of your own. Just off famous Route 66 in nearby Peach Springs, the Diamond Creek Road winds you down to the Colorado River by way of the Grand Canyon.

If wildlife and kayaking are more to your taste, make sure to check out 'Akahav Tribal Preserve, a preservation area set aside to restore and protect the lower Colorado River’s natural ecosystem. The 200 acre re-vegetation project recreates the area’s native habitat, and includes a number of new plating sites, which include cottonwood, willow and mesquite trees for hikers to enjoy and learn about while working up a sweat. Just an hour and a half away from Lake Havasu City is the 60 mile expanse of limestone caves and crevasses 35 million years in the making at Grand Canyon Caverns, an Arizona “must-see.” For animal lovers, a trip to Valentine, AZ is an easy afternoon adventure where rescued exotic animals are house over 175 acres of spacious natural animal habitats. In the rock formations, vegetation and natural springs of Keepers of the Wild, visitors will have the chance to enjoy watching over 150 types of animals, including everything from basic livestock, reptiles, and a variety of birds to more exotic species, such as monkeys and a rare Siberian Tiger.